Chairman’s Report 2023
All of us like the prospect of sharing in new, beneficial developments, but if we are honest none of us are so keen when we are confronted by unexpected change. In the last three years, we have all had to confront extensive and unwanted change, not least with the arrival of Covid-19. This meant that we had to stop meeting in the Charter Hall, master the use of Zoom and join in virtual meetings as best we could. Then came a gradual return to a new normal. First, hybrid meetings with the chance to gather in a different venue but with the speaker still at home. Thankfully, last year we were able to return to meetings and grateful to gather at a temporary local venue, Fairplace Church, with speakers present.
An exciting development has been the move to establish our society as a charity. This has been completed and a successful claim has been made to HMRC, thanks to the tireless work of our treasurer who has carefully charted a way through unknown territory. This development will help to secure the financial viability of our society as we move forward and help us to keep our annual membership fee at a reasonable level in very uncertain economic times.
Though the return to venue meetings was completed, sadly we have not been able to return to the Charter Hall as major building works have still to be undertaken. Just as soon as this has been finished, we will move from Fairplace Church back into the Charter Hall for our monthly lectures.
The advice from The Arts Society Headquarters in London is that society committee members should not usually serve for more than three years. Thankfully no one on our committee chose to resign during the recent, difficult times. This year however, sees the retirement of quite a number of the members of the committee, some of whom have been shouldering responsibilities since the society began while others of us have taken up tasks more recently. The retirees include, Caroline Taylor (Treasurer), Cindy Telfer-Smollett (Membership Secretary), Alison Gibson (Programme Secretary), Claire Levey (Newsletter Editor), Kate Newman (Refreshments Team Leader) and Julian Farrar (Committee Member). Their skills and commitment together with their enthusiasm and humour has enabled our society to thrive and develop as we have faced very challenging circumstances.
Though I am sorry that so many leaders are retiring at the same time I am delighted that we have been able to find from within our society members ready to step forward and be coopted to the committee in preparation for taking up the challenges of guiding TAS Dartmoor for the next few years, subject to election at the AGM. They include Lynne Vowles, Lynn West, Jane Chapman, Gwyneth Leonard and Jacqui Foster. Jill McDowell has kindly agreed to lead the refreshments team but will not be joining the committee. This is a very positive development and I hope that you will welcome and support these volunteers as they take up the different roles.
On a personal note, I hope that someone will come forward in the ensuing year to join the committee and to replace me as your chairman. It is important for the future of the society that I retire at the latest by the next AGM in 2024 by which time I shall have served for 5 years! Please help me to make this a positive development rather than an unwanted change!
The Young Arts Representative’s Report 2022-23
In 2022 the Dartmoor section of the Arts Society featured in the Association’s quarterly magazine. The link below is to the article that the journalist, Precious Adesina, wrote about our work with Luna Redhead and Okehampton Primary School (OPS) which we helped to fund and took place over several years from 2014 until Covid prevented us. https://theartssociety.org/arts-news-features/making-impact-power-art-schools
Sadly, Luna and OPS parted ways and she is now in charge of Artistic and Community events in Bude. So, in 2022 the committee agreed a grant of £500 towards training in Makaton for non-verbal young adults who attend the “Get Changed” drama group. Makaton is a simpler form of BSL (British Sign Language) and is used internationally to help communication between people.
Young adults with various disabilities attend a weekly workshop for drama, music and confidence building exercises. It is a very local charity having been formed and located in Okehampton since 1995. Their productions are enormous fun and I hope you can get to see one later this year.
Here is a link to a video made about the work of Get Changed: https://getchanged.com/watch-our-video/
Jan Goffey
Young Arts Representative
Membership Secretary's Report 2023 We have had a good year membership-wise. We continue to be full and are lucky to have a small but healthy waiting list. I have been so very pleased to see larger numbers attending the lectures this year. Things are sLqrting to seem a lot more like normal. As I hand over my job to the very capable Jane Chapman, I would just like to express what a pleasure it has been to be your secretary for all this time. I doubt that any other society could boast such a warm and friendly mernbership, which has rnade my role a real pleasure. Cynthia Telfer Srnollett
’ – The Arts Society Dartmoor Programme Secretary s Report September 2022 June 2023 by Alli Gibson
We began the lecture year with a return visit by Jonathan Weeks, the second part of his Blast from the Past musical lecture. Despite a problem with the venue’s IT system, which precluded him from illustrating the various instruments being played, he demonstrated a fascinating range of wind and string instruments in an informative, amusing and entertaining presentation. We were then transported to the wonderful world of Portmeirion with an inspiring talk made all the more interesting by the lecturer’s family connection to the place. Many members who have not already visited Portmeirion said they hoped to visit. Jacob Moss, former curator of the Fan Museum in London, gave a thoroughly enjoyable and informative lecture on the history of fans, which was considered much more interesting than some members had anticipated. We were let down by our December lecturer who pulled out at the last minute, but nevertheless were able to end the calendar year with an inspiring lecture on the Quaker Fox family gardens in Falmouth when Catherine Wallace stepped in at next to no notice. In the New Year we were treated to an excellent lecture on landscape photography. The images were beautiful and the description of what makes a good composition made some members say they felt encouraged to use their camera and take more notice of their surroundings. This was followed by a highly entertaining and enjoyable lecture on Agatha Christie, the lecture being of particular local interest given her holiday home of Greenaway nearby. Tasha Marks’ lecture on Food and Art was an unexpected topic, but fascinating and it was especially enjoyable in the way cultural and political aspects were covered. The modern material was a particular surprise and gave rise to much conversation after the lecture. We had another delightful lecture from our member David Tovey which gave a fascinating insight into the lives of the Lamorna colony artists, with information about their lives and how they were viewed by those in London. Some members said how much they were looking forward to David’s forthcoming exhibition of these artists at the Penlee Gallery. Simon Inglis gave a very interesting lecture on swimming pools and lidos, which may have inspired some of us to get out for some wild swimming experiences or at least to make use of the numerous open-air pools located in our vicinity. We wrapped up the lecture year with Brian MacDonald’s thoroughly fascinating and deeply knowledgeable talk backed up with first-hand experience and practical examples of rugs and woven textiles from Iran and Afghanistan.
Finally, after six and a half thoroughly enjoyable years of organising our lecture programme and enjoying our gatherings, I am happy to be handing the reins over to Lynn West who has now booked next year’s programme starting in January 2024. I wish her well and look forward to attending the lovely talks she has in store for us.
The full list of lectures 2022/2023 Speaker A blast from the past – part 2: the horn and strings of the Middle Ages Jonathan Weeks Portmeirion – a Welsh Italianate fantasy Matthew Williams Painted pleats: a history of European fan painting Jacob Moss A Quaker vision – the Fox family gardens of Falmouth Catherine Wallace The making of landscape photographs Charlie Waite Agatha Christie: queen of crime Jane Tapley Food and art through the ages: from renaissance sugar sculpture to 3D printing Tasha Marks Lamorna colony pioneers David Tovey Great lengths – on the art and architecture of historic swimming pools and lidos Simon Inglis Adventures among the nomadic tribes of Iran and Afghanistan – searching for Brian MacDonald the woven art of the nomads
THE ARTS SOCIETY DARTMOOR
AGM
13 September 2023
TREASURER’S REPORT for the year 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022
During 2022 it was wonderful to see a gradual increase in members returning to Fairplace Church to watch the lectures instead of via Zoom. The Arts Society Dartmoor continues to go from strength to strength. At the end of December 2022 we had a surplus of £1,242.
The income from subscriptions totalled £16,794.* This figure includes subscriptions paid in advance for 2023 . Donations from guests attending our lectures totalled £230. Further donations were received totalling £62.
On the expenses side, the hall hire, lecturers’ travel expenses, projectionist charges and groceries had obviously increased since 2021 as all lectures took place in Fairplace Church not via Zoom.
The Arts Society affiliation fee was £14.21 per person in 2022. This affiliation fee also covers our insurance.
At the time of writing (2 June 2023) our bank balance stands at £24,562.35.
Regarding Trails of Discovery and Young Arts projects, we were able to give a grant of £500 to the Get Changed Theatre Company, which enables youngsters with learning difficulties to produce plays and stage productions. We are now in an excellent position to give financial aid for similar projects in the future.
*Subscriptions £ 10,050 Subscription payments for 2023 paid in advance £ 6,744
TOTAL £ 16,794
Caroline Taylor Treasurer
The Arts Society Dartmoor
The Report of the Chairman of the Visits and Discovery Day Working Party
Having recently joined the Visits and Discovery Day working party, I rather unexpectedly found myself taking over from Adrian Wallwork when he set off on a sabbatical year travelling abroad.
A particularly well-received lecture on “The SS Great Britain” by Ian Caskie in June 2022 resulted in many Members expressing the view that a visit to The SS Great Britain in Bristol would be a popular choice for 2023. The committee endorsed the proposal for such a visit and Members were invited to sign up to indicate their wish to take part.
After much discussion with the Group Booking Team at SS Great Britain and assessment of the options for travel to Bristol by bus or by train a visit on 10th May 2023 was arranged.
Unfortunately, the number of Members who committed to taking part was far fewer than had initially signed up. This meant the visit was no longer financially viable without significantly increasing the cost to participants and risking even fewer deciding to take part or subsidising it heavily from our society’s funds. The committee considered the options and concluded that the visit should be cancelled.
We hope to be able to arrange a Visit and/or a Discovery Day during the next year that will prove popular and be viable.
Caroline Shipley
THE ARTS SOCIETY DARTMOOR TRADING AND PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022 2022 2021 Income Subscriptions Gift Aid Claim Head Clffice communty grnnt Donations Donations- Young Arts lund W811ing list fees Discovery Day income Falmouth Visit Books sold 10,060 9.517 250 90 205 45 1,361 292 55 136 32 10,565 11.468 Exponses NADFAS affiliation fee Zo¢)m IiGenGo and web ¥erviGes Hall hire and projectionist charges Discovery Day oxpan8è8 Lecturers, fee8 Lecturers, expenses Printing, postsge, stationery and computer costs Committee expenses Sundry expense5 Grants Young Arts A(xountancy 2.884 120 542 2,849 167 252 1,179 3,505 3,455 363 623 153 145 500 421 52 200 492 9,323 8,649 Net Incomel(expendfturo) for the year 1.242 2.819 Opening balance at 1 January 18.468 15,847 Net income for year as above 1,242 2.819 18A66 Being dosing balanlxs at 31 December Bank Cash Incomè rec8lV8d In advanc 26,438 16 (8,744) 21,798 16 13,3481 19.708 18,466